Shifting jack



May 14, 1963 v. DEVE 3,08

SHIFTING JACK Filed Aug. 22, 1960 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE N TOP Vagn DE VE ATENT AGEN May 14, 1963 v. DEVE 3,089,680

. SHIFTING JACK Filed Aug. 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN l/EN TOR 24 25 \25 22 20 1 090 DEVE PATNT AGENT 3,089,680 1C6 Patented May 14, 19

3,089,680 SHIFTING JACK Vagn Deve, 692 69th Ave., LAbord-a-Ploutfe,

Quebec, Canada Filed Aug. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 51,157 2 Claims. (Cl. 254-85) The present invention relates to a hydraulically operated erection device or jack for lifting .a heavy body and laterally shifting the same to enable lining up of said body, the device being applicable to heavy machinery and the like.

The general object of the present invention resides in a hydraulic shifting jack of the character described which is of relatively simple and yet strong and durable construction and which is so designed as to permit the lateral displacement of a heavy body in all directions in an horizontal plane. Y

Yet another important object of the present invention resides in a shifting jack of the character described which provides for turning movement of the body as well as lateral displacement.

Still another important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a shifting jack of the character described which has means for the exact lateral positioning of a heavy object.

Another important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a jack of the character described which once the heavy machinery has been located, can be used as a permanent support for said machinery.

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a simplified perspective view of a first embodiment of the jack of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of the same shown in retracted position;

FIGURE 3 is a similar cross-sectional elevation shown in laterally shifted and erected position;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of a second embodiment; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional elevation of the same embodiment shown in laterally shifted and erected position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout, the first embodiment shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, comprises a circular base plate 1 having at the perimeter thereof upstanding curved flanges 2. The top surface 3 of base plate 1 is machined and ground to provide a smooth bearing surface. A bore 4 is made in base plate 1 and opens at approximately the center of the top surface 3 and at the side of base plate 1 for connection to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, such as a hydraulic pump (not shown) connected to a reservoir of fluid.

A hydraulic cylinder and piston unit comprising a cylinder 5 and a piston 6 are mounted on the base plate -1 for lateral shifting movement as well as rotating movement with respect to base plate 1. The cylinder 5 consists of a cylindrical body open at its upper and lower ends, and provided with a lower flange 7 radially externally projecting from the cylinder and having a cylindrical side face 8 facing and spaced from the flanges 3, radially inwardly of said flanges. Radially directed adjusting screws 9 are threaded within the flanges 7 and are adapted to bear against the cylindrical side face 8 of cylinder 5. The screws 9 are angularly spaced around the cylinder, being preferably 90 apart.

The cylinder 5 has a, lower edge surface 10' which is machined and smooth for contacting the top surface 3 of base plate 1. The radially inner surface portion 11 of edge surface 10 is recessed so as to be spaced from the top surface 3 of base plate 1 and a sealing ring 12 is disposed Within a groove made at the junction of surfaces 10 and 11. The inner cylindrical surface of cylinder 5 is bevelled at 13 adjacent surface portion 11. The sealing ring 12 may be of the resilient type known as O-ring, quad-rings, V-rings or U-rings or similar; or of a combination of resilient and cast iron or other metal.

The piston 6 is in the form of a cap constituted by a circular top 14 and a depending skirt 15 of cylindrical shape, fitting over the external cylindrical surface of the cylinder 5, the latter being provided with a groove adjacent the top end thereof for receiving a sealing ring 16 for a fluid tight seal between the piston and cylinder.

This first embodiment operates as follows: In the retrlacted position, as shown in FIGURE 2, it is placed an der the heavy object which it is desired to lift and shift laterally for lining up of the object. Hydraulic pressure fluid is admitted through bore 4 whereby the piston is raised, as shown in FIGURE 3. The surface area of the inner surface portion 11 of the cylinder 5 and the diameter of sealing ring 12 are calculated such that the internal pressure keeps the cylinder '5 balanced with a slight force component towards the base plate being understood that there is an upward force exerted on surface portion 11. Thus it is possible, with the load lifted by piston 6, to laterally shift the load, piston and cylinder With respect to base plate 1, as the only resistance to this shiftin'g movement is a slight friction between the cylinder, the sealing ring 12 and the base plate 1. Thus, this shifting movement can be easily done by pushing the carried load or by means of the screws 9. Because the side face 3 is cylindrical it is possible to allow turning movement of the load, piston and cylinder with respect to base plate 1. Once the load has been located, it is possible to use the jack as a permanent support, by placing shims between the lower edge of skirt 15 of piston 6 and flange 7 of cylinder 5, and then relieving the hydraulic pressure in the device. The piston 6 may be part of the machinery to be positioned.

The second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. This embodiment comprises a base plate 20 having an upstanding cylindrical flange 21 at the periphery thereof; a hardened and ground ciroular steel plate 22 is fitted within a recess made in the top of base plate 20 and forms a smooth bearing surface 23. A ball bearing assembly constituted by the balls 24 and cage 25, which consists of a perforated plate of ciroular shape, are freely positioned on the bearing surface 23. The cage 25 has substantially the same diameter as plate 22.

A cylinder 26 mounted in upright position is opened at its upper end and is closed by bottom wall 27 at its lower end, said bottom wall having a downwardly depending centrally located stud 28 for rigidly fixing to the cylinder 26 a hardened and ground circular plate 29 contacting the surface of bottom wall 27 and bearing on the balls 24. The bearing plate 29 has a diameter equal to the cage 25 and bearing plate 22.

A centering rubber ring 30 is fitted within a groove 31 made in the internal surface of the flange 21, opposite plate 29 and cage 25. The ring 30 has a channel shaped cross section and bears on plate 29 and cage 25 to maintain the cylinder and cage in centered position with respect to the base plate 20 and bearing plate 22.

A piston 32 of cylindrical shape fits Within the cylinder 26; piston 32 is provided with a sealing ring 33 near its lower face while cylinder 26 is provided with cleaning ring 34 near the upper edge of its internal surface.

A bore 35 is made in the bottom wall 27 of cylinder 26 and opens at the center of the cylinder cavity and at the side of the cylinder for connection to piping and pump (not shown) for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure.

Radially directed screws 36 are inthreaded engagement with the flange 21 and are adapted to engage the cylindrical surface 37 of cylinder body 26, which is radially inwardly spaced from flange 21.

The second embodiment is used as follows: The device in retracted condition is placed under the load to be lifted and laterally displaced such as heavy machinery, hydraulic fluid under pressure is admitted within the cylinder cavity through bore 35. The piston and load are lifted and by screwing or unscrewing desired ones of the screws 36, the load can be laterally shifted with respect to the base p1ate,--the cylinder and its plate 29 being free to move laterally on the balls 24 in all directions in a horizontal plane. As normally several units in accordance with the invention are used and because they are shifted to different degrees for lining up heavy machinery, the cylinder will rotate slightly with respect to the base plate. This rotating movement is allowed for due-to the fact that the screws 36 bear-on the surface 37 which is cylindrical. The screws 36, once the load has been properly positioned, can be tightened against the cylinder 26. The same applies to the screws 9 of the first embodiment whereby the units ofthe invention can be left in place for a certain period of time without undesired further shifting of theload.

While preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A shifting jack comprising-a ground engaging base having a smooth top bearing surface and an upright flange at the perimeter thereof, an upright hydraulic cylinder opened at both ends and having a radially outwardly directed flange at its lower end defining a cylindrical lateral wall portion spaced from said flange, and a smooth bottom face in slidable engagement with the bearing surface of said base, said cylinder being rotatable and laterally shiftable in all directions with respect to said base, a piston in the form of a cap having a cylindrical skirt fitting over and slidable with respect to the external surface of said cylinder, the lower edge of said skirt registering with said lateral flange of said cylinder, said piston vertically movable underhydraulic fluid pressure, means to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure in the cavity defined between said cylinder and piston, and radially directed screw means mounted in said flange and engageable with'said cylindricallateral wall portion of said cylinder for allowing rotation of said cylinder and for adjustable lateral shifting and positioning of said cylinder with respect to saidbase.

2. A shifting jack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom face of said flange has'a radially inner recessed portion spaced from said heating surface of said base to define a space in cornmunicaiton with said cavity whereby hydraulic fluid admitted in said space will exert upward pressure on said cylinder to assist in lateral shifting of said cylinder under load'and a sealing ring disposed in a groove made in said bottom face of said flange of said cylinder immediately at the outer periphery of said recessed inner surface portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 591,076 Gerdau Oct. 5, 1897 815,752 Silverman Mar. 20, 1906 2,004,238 Fithian June 11, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 355,387 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1931 779,791 Great Britain July 24, 1957 1,063,103 Germany Aug. 13, 1959 

1. A SHIFTING JACK COMPRISING A GROUND ENGAGING BASE HAVING A SMOOTH TOP BEARING SURFACE AND AN UPRIGHT FLANGE AT THE PERIMETER THEREOF, AN UPRIGHT HYDRAULIC CYLINDER OPENED AT BOTH ENDS AND HAVING A RADIALLY OUTWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGE AT ITS LOWER END DEFINING A CLYINDRICAL LATERAL WALL PORTION SPACED FROM SAID FLANGE, AND A SMOOTH BOTTOM FACE IN SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BEARING SURFACE OF SAID BASE, SAID CYLINDER BEING ROTATABLE AND LATERALLY SHIFTABLE IN ALL DIRECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE, A PISTON IN THE FORM OF A CAP HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SKIRT FITTING OVER AND SLIDABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF SAID CYLINDER, THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID SKIRT REGISTERING WITH SAID LATERAL FLANGE OF SAID CYLINDER, SAID PISTON VERTICALLY MOVABLE UNDER HYDRAULIC FLUID PRESSURE, MEANS TO SUPPLY HYDRAULIC FLUID UNDER PRESSURE IN THE CAVITY DEFINED BETWEEN SAID CYLINDER AND PISTON, AND RADIALLY DIRECTED SCREW MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID FLANGE AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL LATERAL WALL PORTION OF SAID CYLINDER FOR ALLOWING ROTATION OF SAID CYLINDER AND FOR ADJUSTABLE LATERAL SHIFTING AND POSITIONING OF SAID CYLINDER WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE. 